Apparatus for absorption of gases.



G. ESOHELLMANN & A. HARMUTH. APPARATUS FOR ABSORPTION 0P GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1907.

PATENTED JULY 28,1908.

' eEoac EsoHELLiiANN ANDYALBERT HARMUTH, OF ST, PETERSBURG, RUSSIh;

nrinn'n'rus s. 3 03 1 1: OF GASES,

Specification 01- Letters Patent.

' Application filed rui av, 1907'; Serial No; 335,934.

To all whom concern: r I

Be it known that we, GEORG ESOHELL-i MANN, a Britishsubject, and ALBERTHAR- .MUT H, a German subject, residing at St. Pe-

tersburg, Einpire of-Ru'ssia', have invented certainnew" and usefulImprovements 'in- A ,paratus for theAbsorption of Gases, of W oh thefollowing is a-specification. I

The object of this'inventiom is to providean apparatus forthe-absorptionofqgases in suita e solvents, theapparatus beingmore particularlyintended for the absor tion of gaseous sulfuric anhydrid in a suitab eliquid,

- usually sulfuric acid.

In the towers commonly employed heretofore for the absorption ofsulfuricanhydrid, the current of the gaseous su'lfurtrioxid is broughtinto contact with the absorbing liquid by exposing an extended surfaceothe liquid 'to the gases by permitting it to flow downward over afilling material disposed within a vertically arranged tower,the-current of gas rising through the same. Among the many disadvantagesof this arran ement may benoted the tendency to the formation ofchannels throughwhich the acid' flows without contact with the gas; thegreat amount of s ace required for an' installation capable of a sorbingconsiderable'qua-ntities of sulfur trioxid; and the f act that it isim'-' practicable to-cool the absorbing liquid durmg the progress of theabsorption, it being necessary to permit periods of absor tion to.alternate with cooling eriods. E orts tof cool the absorbing liqu'i byapplying cooling means to the tower have not been practicallysuccessful, since the cooling means cannot be effectively applied to theinterior of'the' filling material or to the liquid itself, 'and theresulting complication ofthe apparatus isdisproportionate to the'resultss'ecured.

We have now found that the absorption of the gaseous sulfuric anh dridmay bequickly and effectively accomp "she'd by conve 'ng the'gas underressure through the absorbing liquid or .aci ually favorable resultscannot be secured y conveying the gases through the liquid by suction.Under a suitable ressure however an intimate contact may he securedbetween the gas and the liquid bysubdividing the gas at the same timeinto small bubbles, and by-applyingthe cool ing means at the surfaces'ofcontact between the absorbing medium and the gas the condi-.

. pious for rapid "and complete absorption are fulfilled,

fatented Ju1y'28, 1908.

' p A form (if-apparatus constructed in accordance with our mvention isshowninthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

"Figure 1. is a central vertical section of apreferred form of tower;and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, partly in horizontal section.Referring 'to the drawing, the absorption tower comprisesfa plurality ofsuperposed absorption chambers a, a, a s'hownas three in number,assembledmsuch manner that the acking is. but of contact with the acid.

ach chamber .is rovided with a centrallby disposed, upward y surmounted'by an inverted bowl-shaped 'cover'c, carried by supports 6 on the innerWall ofthe tower and makingfa substantially extending gas-inlet ,j

tightjoint'therewith. The outer'and-lower the perforations eingpreferably disposed in that'each gas bubble shall'detach itself freely"andrise 'to'the surface of the liquid column without merging theadjacent bubbles,

thereby securing very rapid absorption.

The arrangement also ermits the gases to be completely absorbed 1naliqu'id column of mimmum height, and therefore in a colu rm offering,lthe nmin'nlm resistance to their\ assage." Thel'ateral'dispositionofthe perf orationsis-also advantagpous as preventing 'violen'tagitation of the 'quid surface,-and therefore avoiding the carrymg'ofparticles of the absorbing liquid from one compartment -to that nextabove.

' In order to secure the highest efficinc absorption itis necessary thatthe cool means should be applied directly to the abof mg, i

sorption zone This is accomplished in the apparatus shown by surroundingthe several a sorption chambers a, a, a by cooling jackets e, and isaided by the inclinedposition of the perforated zone 11 of the cover a,

the inclination of this zone being such that the ascending absorbingliquid is directed outwardly as indicated by the arrows against thecooled walls. Preferably the cooling jackets e extend not only. aroundthe absorption zone, but around the lower portions of de th t an thosein the other 0 the several chamber walls, as shown, in order that theabsorbing liquid may be cooled during substantially its entire course.

As indicated 1n the drawing the cover 0 the up or chamber is preferablyof greater mbers, rovi ing thereby a deeper liquid co umn, w 'ch isefiective to absorb the final traces from the relatively dilute gasespassing therethrough.

The smaller the perforations in the zones d,

the more perfect will be the distribution of the gases and the morerapid their absor tion.

It-ispreferred that the sizeand num er of the perforations should besuch that their. aggregate area will substantially equal the area of thegas-inlet; as a more certain distribution of the gases is therebysecured.

The. absorbing acid may be introduced into the up er chamber through apipe f, flowing upwar through each chamber, and "passing between theseveral chambers through connecting pipes g extending between the upperwalls.

portion of one chamber and the lower portion of the chamber next below.In this case the density of the acid overflowing from the lowermostchamber through the pipe h will be controlled by, the densit of thatintroing the chamber wa s, and means for direct-L ing the absorbingliquid against said cooled 2. An absorption a paratusbomlprising aplurality of superpose absorption 0 ambers,

means forestablishin an upward currentof liquid in each of sai chambers,means for distributing the gas in contact with said rising a liquid,means for directing the absorbing liquid against the chamber walls, andmeans for cooling said walls.

3. An absorption a paratus corn rising a plurality of super oseabsorption 0 ambers, a as inlet for eac chamber, a cover for each in etdirecting the gas in proximity to the chamber walls, means For coolingsaid walls,

,-. perforations insaid cover in proximity to said wallsand inclinedthereto, and means for establishing an upward current of liquid througheach of said chambers.

. 5. An absorption a paratus com rising a plurality of superposedabsorption 0 ambers provided with cooling jackets, a central,upwardly-extending gas-inlet for each chamber, means foriritroducinggas' under pressure to said chambers, a cover for each inlet directingthe gas in proximity to the chamber walls, erforations'in said cover inproximity to sai walls and inclined thereto, and means for establishingan upward current of liquid throu h each of said chambers.

6. absorption a paratus comprising a plurality of superposed absorptionprovided with cooling jackets, a central, upwardly-extending gas-inletfor each chamber, means for introducing gas under pressure to saidchambers, a cover for each inlet directing the ,gas in proximity to thechamber Wall's, aplurality of rows of staggered perforations in saidcover in proximity to said wallsand inclined thereto, and means forestablishing an n ward current, of liquid through each of said chambers.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

Witnesses:

N. D. FoMIN, AUG. Nronrs.

c ambers

